Hospitals in the Lebanese capital are overwhelmed with those suffering injuries from a massive explosion in Beirut’s port, causing widespread damage to the city and rocking the tiny Mediterranean nation already devastated by the coronavirus and its worst financial crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.
“People won’t be able to rebuild their homes, businesses, livelihoods. There are reports of hospitals turning away patients because they don’t have the capacity,” said Aya Majzoub, Lebanon researcher with Human Rights Watch.
“Even before this blast, there have been shortages of medical equipment, protective gear. The health care capacity was already overstretched. I don’t know how hospitals are going to be able to handle these additional injuries,” she added. Initial reports say the explosion was caused by highly explosive materials seized from a ship stored at the port.
Lebanon’s dire economic crisis, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, is pushing people into a struggle for survival, Catholic and other humanitarian agencies warn, as growing numbers of families can no longer afford the basic food, electricity, hygiene, water and cooking fuel needed to live. On top of that, power cuts last up to 20 hours a day.
Inflation
With Lebanon’s currency collapsing by 80% of its value since last October, spiralling inflation and unemployment running about 55%, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association/Pontifical Mission’s Michel Constantin explained that Lebanon does not have a social safety net, but the Catholic Church is reaching out to help the destitute.
An agency of the Holy See, CNEWA/Pontifical Mission works for, through and with the Eastern Catholic churches to address pastoral needs and deliver humanitarian aid.
“People have lost their jobs, are stuck at home with no employment and are getting hungry. We are distributing food, life-saving items such as medicines, food and milk for children for families who have lost jobs. Not to fight poverty, but to save lives,” Constantin told Catholic News Service by phone from Beirut.
“This crisis hits everybody – Lebanese families, Palestinian and Syrian refugees alike. We will start seeing children dying from hunger before the end of the year,” warned Jad Sakr, acting country director of Save the Children in Lebanon.
A recent report by the U.N. World Food Program said 50% of Lebanese citizens, along with 63% of Palestinians and 75% of Syrians in the country, had expressed doubts they would find enough food over the previous month.
“If we offer a choice between hygiene or food boxes, the families will all choose food…every time,” explained American Emily Redfern volunteering with Fratelli Project, supported by CNEWA/Pontifical Mission and a partner reaching those in need.
Speaking of the head of a household in one family she said: “He’s too proud to accept help – it’s a good thing his wife is not, otherwise I don’t know how they would be eating.”
